belcher



Dec. 20, 1927.,

D. BELCHER BAG FILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 45 /0 H TTOHNEVS D. BELCHER BAG FILLING APPARATUS Dec. zo, 1927.,

Filed Feb. 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [N1/EN Tof? Dfi/WEL Bamm 'BJ/FM4,h? HTTORA/Eys Patented @ein 20, i922.

attirant erica,

DANIEL BELCHER, 0F MINNEAPOLS, MINNESOTA, ASSIG-NOR TO BEMIS BRO. BAGC0., 0?? MNNEAPOLS, MINNESOTA, A COREORATION OF MISSOURI.

BAG-FILLING- APPARATUS.

Application filed February 21, 1927. Serial No. 189,859.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus f r filling bags.The invention is particularly applicable to that class of bag fillingmechanisms which include a filling 5 spout, and a bag-supportingplatform movable toward and away from the spout in a vertical direction.f

One object of the invent-ion is to provide a method for filling the bagwhich consists i t9 supporting the bag upon a platform in a manner toallow a passage of the spout through the support, filling the bag whilelowering the support and platform, and then arresting the movement ofthe support, and

l5 disengaging the filled bag by continued .motion of the platform inthe same direction and away from the support. from beneath. Another ob]ect of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby a'bagsupporting element normally arranged in lined relation to and above themovable platform, when the platform is moving toward the spout, iscaused to be arrested during a portion of the downward movement of theplatform away from the spout, to permit withdrawal of the filled bagfrom its support by continued movement in the same direction.

Features of the invention include all the details of construction, aswell as the gen- 0 eral arrangement of the parts for the purpose inhand. It is to be understood that it is not the intention to limit theinvention to the details of construction, although these are consideredto be a part of the invention, as one means of' carrying it out.

Other objects are to provide means whereby the bag is supportedlaterally during the filling operation by a flexible apron; to providemeans whereby upon completion of the filling operation, as the fillingplatform travels to unloading position, the bag is partially orcompletely withdrawn from the apron; to provide a series of bagsupporting annulae alternately attachable, to receive bags of differentsizes; to provide a. bag supporting structure mounted for instantremoval; to provide means whereby the con tinued movement of the filledbag, disengages the same from within the flexible bag.- supportingdevice, or apron.

Advantages of the device will be disclosed in description of thedrawings forming a part of this application and in said drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation showing the platform in its lowermostposition, with a bag arranged over the bag'support;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure l, but showing theplatform substantially at its uppermost posit-ion, and 60 with the bagsupport, apron and bag encircling the filling spout;

Figure 3 is a view partly in section, corresponding to Figure 1, butshowing the platform at a position lower than shown in Figure 2, withthe extensions of the bagsupport engaging, to temporarily preventfurther downward movement of said support, and with the bagsubstantially filled;

Figure i is a sectional plan view on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the loop-like bag support,showing the manner of'attachingl the apron thereto;

Figure 6 is a plan view of one size of a loop-like bag support; and

Figure T is a plan view of another size, a series of loop-lil ebag-supports of different sizes being provided.

The numeral l designates vertical guides, spaced (see Figures 1 and 2)to slidably receive a platform-carrying element 2, said element beingarranged to reciprocate substantially as shown. Carried by the element2, is a platform 3 horizontally arranged and projecting outwardly. Thenumeral 4 represents the filling spout, 5 the screw shaft and 6 thescrew. The elements just dcscribed are suflicientto illustrate theinvention, and sho-w a bag` filling mechanism including a filling spout,and a bag supporting platform movable toward and away from the spout.

The method of carrying out the invention consists in providing abag-supporting ele- "D ment carried by and movable with the platform,but separable from the platform, the movement of which support isarrested during a portion of that time when the platform and support arcreceding from the spout. This to provide a continued motion of the bagin a direction away from the support, to free the bag from said support.

ln carrying out the invention, a bag-supporting element- 10 isadjustably mounted and spaced above the platform to occupy a linedrelation with the platform as the same moves toward the spout, thesupport being arranged to be traversed by the spout. This element 10 isof loop-lile configuration and is sometimes referred to as an annulus.Means is provided to hold the loop in spaced relation above theplatform, and in this instance comprises a guide (or guides) 12 as anupright tubular member. Each annulus or loop is provided, in thisinstance, with a pair of downward extensions each having a socket 1G,and each arranged at the outer side of the loop on a circumferenceconcentric with its vertical axis. rl`he socket members 15 are formedintegrally with the loop, the outward dxnvnwardly slantimg connectingelementbeing shown at 1f). The upper end of the member 12 and the lowerend off the element 15 normally abuttingly engage as shown. lt isconceivable that the single member l5 may be used. (cmneefed :in thesocket 16 is au extension 2l) traversing` the guides and reachingdownwardly below the platform. These e; sions in this instance are shownas c., hndriczfil rods, the lower ends of which are adapted undercertain conditions vto iinpinge against a stop to "teinporarily arrestthe movement of the bag support during the movement of the plat* formaway from the spout. Either' one or a plurality of these elen'ients maybe considered simply as a part of the annulus, the

idea being to provide means for engaging the bag support to arrest itsdownward movement under conditions herebelow more fully described. i

The apron is indicated at and is secured, in this instance, to theouter' side of the annulusby suitable means indicated at 26, a groove 27being provided to receive the upper end of the apron. The apron isdisposed substantially as shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 and provides meansfor supporting the sides of the bag duringv filling and also providesflexible means from which the filled bag may be easily withdrawn in adi'iwnward direction. The. interior surface of the fab ric of which thishood or apron is composed, may he treated to reduce friction, at thesame time retaining the flexible quality of the fabric.

A movable stop is arranged in the path of the rod or rods to arrestmovement of the annulus after the filling` operation and means is alsoprovided to move the. stop to permit continued motion of th\ annulus inthe same directiim, the arrangement being such that the annulus is helduntil the filled bag` is substantially free from the lower end of theapron. In this instance, connections are provided by which stop-controlmeans is actuated by the weight of the filled bag when drawn from theplatform, the stop then being operated to permit follow-down motion ofthe bag support toward the platform, and against the bag supl'iorting,holding or abutment means 12. This stop means is arranged above a socketor sockets formed lin this instance by tubular members 30, cx-

tending below the floor 31. The stopmeans as a plate 35 is arranged sothat it may be moved over these sockets to prevent entrance of' the rods20 thereinto. The stop position is shown in Figure 3. This stop means isslidable upon a base plate 4t() which plate is provided with a pair ofvertical abutments l1 aga-inst which the forward edges 42 of the stopmember impinge, when closing the sockets tothe entrance of the rods 20.This plate has an 'integral extension 45 to which is pivoted a le\ 4Gthe pivot being shown at 4T'. The lever is of such length as to extendoutwardly beyond the platform, when said platform is in its lower-mostposh tion. Upon the outer end of the lever is'arranged an auxiliaryplatform 50, said platform being suitably connected tothe lever 46.

The lever 46 is provided with a depending extension 55, and a rod 56 ispivoted as at 57 to this extension. This rod traverses the elementhorizontally and is slidable therein, and has its opposite endtraversing an upstanding lugl G() ot the stop element S5. Suitable nuts61 secure the rod to the stop. An additional abutment 65 acts to limitoutward movement of the rod 56, and a coil spring G6 is interposedbetween the base plate and the extension 55 to normally hold the stopover the socket, and to dispose the auxiliary platform in a position toreceive a filled bag when dragged in a direction outwardly from theplatform. It will be understood that when the bag is deposited upon theelement 50 the stop member 35 will be translated in a manner to permitthe rods to enter into the sockets 30, and thus allow the loop-like bagsupport to be lowered to the initial position shown in Figure 1.

A method of and apparatus for .filling a bag is thus provided in whichthe platform is movable toward and away from a spout, and in which abagssupporting element is carried by and movable with the platform sothat the motion of the bag supportingl eley ment can be temliorarilyarrested when receding from the spoilt, and so that the motion o'f' thebag .may be continued in a direction a ay from the support and spout, inthis instance fo `separate the bag from the support and apron bymovement downwardly therefrom. This is a decided improvement over thedevice ordinarily used inasmuch as the bag can be removed in a direcvtion downwardly from the support, in a manner to autonnitically be freedfrom the support during its travel to unloading position.

The use of a loop-like member having` small vertical height provides avery cheap and efficient means for supporting the bag during the.filling operation, and this looplike support in combination with theflexible apron is found to operate most satisfactorily. Importantadvantages of the present construction are elieapness of manufacture,op-

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erating costs, and saving of time required to disengage the filled bagfrom its reinforcing support.

Operation.

W ith the platform 3 at its lowermost or unloading position, and withthe annulus resting upon the guides and thus spaced from the platform, abag A, wrong side out, is slipped downwardly over the annulus with itsbottom engaging upon the top of the annulus. Tn this position theannulus extensions are within the sockets, and resting upon the cushionsor under some conditions the cushions may be dispensed with. In anyevent, at this time the rods re engz'lged within their sockets, 'and theannulus is substantially at .its lowermost position.

The platform is now caused to rise to tilling position, during whichmovement the bag is engaged with the filling spout, the spout traversingthe annulus and apron to cause the bag to be forced downwardly throughor within the annulus and apron as shown in Figure 2 and to be turnedright side out. During this upward movement, the rods are disengagedfrom their sockets, and when the platform reaches its uppermost orfilling position, the bottom ends of the rods are at a level above thestop plate, substantially as shown7 and the stop plate has closed thesockets to the entrance of the rods.

Filling` now begins and the platform travels downwardly, the bag Astretches, but is laterally supported by the flexible apron 25. Duringthe filling operation the rods have traveled downwardly with theplatform and substantially at the'end of the filling operation, seeFigure '3, the lower ends of the rods engage the stop at the upper side,thus preventing` further downward movement of the annulus and apron. Asthe platform continues its downward motion, the bag is withdrawn fromthe apron and by the time the platform reaches unloading position thetop of the bag is substantially clear of the apron. lVhen the platformreaches unloading` position, or even before. the bag can be removed. lnthis instance the arrangement is such that when the bagr is dragged olfof the main platform on to an auxiliary platform` the depression of theauxiliary platform 50 by the bag moves the stop plate, to the left, seeFigure t, to permit the rods to enter the sockets and allow the annulusto drop substantially to a position shown in Figure l, in which it andthe apron are disposed in spaced operative relation to the platform.Thus the operative cycle is complete and t-he parts are positioned toreceive another bag.

One of the important features of the invention the use of a flexible bagsupport which will allow the bag' to spread circumferentially during thefilling operation. The outer dimensions of the ring l0 and its attachingelements 19 are such that the unfilled bag may be slipped downwardlythereover, in circun'iscribing` relation. Therefore, the apron must beof collapsible material so that when the bag is drawn over the annulusand apron, said apron can be cireumferentially contracted, and so thatwhen the bag is filled it may again be circumferentially expanded. Thisarrangement can be clearly seen by comparing Figures l and 3i In Figurel, the apron is supposedly circumferentially contracted while in Figure3 it is circumferentially expanded. By this arrangement the annulus isof such an outer dimension as to allow the bag to be pulled downwardlythereover, and the apron is of such circun'iferential dimension as toallow the bag to expand outwardly beyond the outer surface of theannulus after passing' through said annulus.

I claim as my invention: p

l. A method for filling a bag by means of a mechanism including a spout,a platform movable toward and away from the spout and a bag supportingelement carried by and movable with the platform, which consists inarresting the motion of the bag supporting element when receding fromthe spout, while continuing the motion of the bag in a direcf tion awayfrom the support and spout.

2. A method for filling a bag by means of a mechanism including a.spout, a platform movable toward and away Afrom the spout and a bagsupporting element carried by and movable with the platform, whichconsists in temporarily arresting the motion of the bag support, whilecontinuing` the motion of the bag.

3. A method of filling a bag which consists in support-ing the bag tomove toward and away from a filling spout, in a manner to allow thepassage of the spout through the support and into the bag, filling thebag while moving the support away from the spout, then temporarilyarresting` the movement of the support, to disengage the filled bagtherefrom.

4. A method of filling a bag which consists in supporting the bag tomove toward and away from a. filling spout, in a manner to allow thepassage of the spout through the support and into the bag, filling thebag while moving the support away from the spout, then arresting themovement of the support to disengag'e the filled bag therefrom bycontinued motion of the bag in the same direction and away from thespout and support.

5. In combination with a bag filling meehanism including a filling spoutand a bagsupporting platform movable toward and away from the spout, a'bag-supporting element adjustably mounted above the platform to'occupya fixed relation with the platform as said platform moves toward thespout, said support adapted to be traversed by the spout, and having aneXtension, and a movable stop against which said extension will impingeto arrest the movement of the bag-support extension during movement ofthe plat-form away from `the spout.

6. In combination with a bag filling mechanism including a filling spoutand a bagsupporting platform movable toward and away from the spout, a`bag-supporting element adjustably mounted above the platform to occupy afixed relation with the platforn'i, said support adapted to be traversedby the spout, and havingl an extension, and a movable stop against whichsaid extension will .impinge to temj'iorarily arrest the moven'ient ofthe bag-support extension to permi.'l withdrawal of the bag from thesupport by continued movement in the same direction.

7. A device of the class described including a bag-filling spout and aplatform movable away from and toward the spout, a

guide upon the platform, a bag-support arranged to abut the guide andwhen so arranged adapted to be traversed by the spout, said supporthaving an extension slidable in the guide, a socket arranged to slidablyreceive the extension, means movable to prevent entrance of theextension into the socket and thus arrest motion of the bag-supportextension, as the bag` is withdrawn as a result of continued motion ofthe platform.

8. A ldevice of the class described including` a bag filling spout anda'platform movable away from and toward the spout, a guide upon theplatform, a bag support arranged to abut the-guide and when so ar-1anged to be spaced vabove the platform in a manner to be traversed bythe spout, said support having an extension slidable in the guide, aflexible apron eircun'lscribing, attached to and depending from thesupport, adjustable means n'iovable to arrest motion of'the bag-supportextension while the bag is withdrawn therefrom as a result of con-.tinued motion of the platform.

9. In combination with a bag filling mechanism including a filling spoutand a vplatform movable toward and away from the spout, a bag-supportupon the platform, movable with and also independently of the platform.adjustable means movable to be engaged by a portion of the bag-supportto arrest motion thereof of said support while the bag is beingwithdrawn tlierefrom as a result of continued motion of the platform.

10. In combination with a `bag filling mechanism including a fillingspout and a platform movable toward and away from the spout, abag-support ar "anged over the platform and slidably adjustable thereon,and disposed to be traversed by spout, ad.-

justable stop means arranged to arrest downward nlovement of thesupport, after the filling operation, and means for operating the stopmeans to allow continued motion of the support in the same direction.

11. In combination with a bag filling mechanism includingT a fillingspout and a platform movable toward and away from the spout, a loop forsupportingthe bag, said loop arranged above the platform for traversal.by the spout and having rods projecting' throliigh the platform,abutment means to hold the loop in spaced relation above the platform,tubes to receive the rods, movable stop means arranged over the tubeswith which the rods are engageable to arrest downward motion of the loopduring continued downward motion of the platform, and means for movingthe stop means to release the rods.

12. In cfnnbination with av bag filling mechanism including a fillingspoutaud a platform movable toward and away from the spout, a bagsupporting element traversable by the spout and arranged above theplatform to positively occupy a fixed relation therewith as the platformmoves toward the spout, an extension connected with the bag supportingelement, and a movable abutment against which said extension impingesafter the filling operation to arrest the movement of the bag support,and permit withdrawal of the bag from the support as the platformrecedes from the spout.

13. In combination with a bag filling mechanism including a fillingspout and a platform movable toward 'and away from the spout, a guidecarried by the platform, an annulus of a size to be traversed by thespout, said annulus havingl a rod slidable in the guide and projectingbelow the platform, said guide acting as an abutment to space theannulus vertically above the platform, a socket below the platform toslidably receive the rod, a movable stop to temporarily prevent entranceof the rod into the socket, and means connected to move the stop andpermit lowering` of the rod into the socket.

14. A device of the class described comprising a vertically movableplatform and' 'from the annulus, tubular sockets arranged to slidablyreceive the rods and limit downward movement thereof, means arranged toprevent entrance of the rods within the sockets in order to arrestmotion of the annulus during continued motion of the platform towardunloading position, means adlll) CTI

jacent the unloading position of the platform to receive the filled bag,said means connected with the stop for moving the same from stoppingposition as the depressible means receives the bag.

15. In combination with a bag filling mechanism including a fillingspout and a platform movable toward and away from the spout, a loop as abag-supporting element arranged above the platform and having anextension projecting below the platform, abutment means to hold the bagsupport spaced above the platform during movement toward the spout, amovable stop with which the extension is eneageable to temporarilyarrest motion of the baO support when the platform is traveling awayfrom the spout, and means for moving said stop to permit subsequentfollow-down motion of the bag support, toward the platform and againstthe bag-support holding means.

16. In combination with a bag filling mechanism including a fillingspout and a platform movable toward and away from the spout, a loop as abag supporting element traversable by the spout and arranged above theplatform, said loop having a flexible apron, extending toward theplatform and said loop being arranged to permit movement of the platformindependently thereof.

17. A device of the class described comprising a vertically movableplatform, a loop as a bag-support arranged above the platform, aflexible apron depending from the loop, both loop and apron beingtraversable by the spout.

18. In combination with a bag filling mechanism including a fillingspout and a platform movable toward and away from the spout, a guidecarried by the platform, an annulus having a rod slidable in the guide,said annulus of a size to be traversed by the spout, an aproncircumscribing the annulus and depending therebelow, said guide act ingas an abutment to dispose the annulus in bag supporting position, amovable stop arranged in the path of the rod to arrest movement of theannulus after the filling ope ation and means connected to move the stopto permit continued motion of the annulus in the same direction, thearrangement being such that the annulus is held until the filled bag issubstantially free of the lower end of the apron.

19. In combination with a bag filling 1" mechanism including a fillingspout and a platform movable toward and away from the spout, a bagsupporting annulus slidably adjustable upon the platform and movable inunison therewith during the filling operation, a spout arranged to enterthe annulus, and means for arresting motion of the annulus after thefilling operation, said means operable to allow continued motion of theannulus in a downward direction.

20. A device of the class described comprising a loop-like bag' support,having a flexible apron attached thereto, and adaptcd to occupy adepending position when the loop is horizontally arranged.

21. A device of the class described having a. bag support comprising anannulus, and a flexible collapsible tubular hood secured to the annulus,the external dimensions of the annulus being such as to permit a bag tobe drawn downwardly thereover.

22. A device of the class described having a bag support comprising anannulus, and a tubular hood secured to the annulus, the externaldimensions of the annulus being such as to permit a bag to be drawndownwardly thereover, and said apron being collapsible to permit suchdisposition of the bag in circumscribing relation to the entire support.

23. A device of the class described having a bag support comprising anannulus, the external dimensions of the annulus being such as to permita bag to be drawn downwardly thereover, in circumscribing relation.

24. A device of the class described comprising a loop-like bag supporthaving a flexible collapsible apron attached thereto, the outerdimension of the loop-like support being greater than thecircumferential dimension of the bag.

25. A Vdevice of the class described comprising a loop-like bag supporthaving an extension for operatively attaching it, the circumferentialdimensions of the loop and extension being such as to allow a bag tocircumscribe them.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17 th day ofFebruary 1927.

DANIEL BELCHER.

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